Music: Music Composition, DMA
for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Music, Music Composition Concentration
Admission
For all degree programs, consult the admission requirements stated on the School of Music’s website.
Requirements for admission to the Master of Music (MM) programs are a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution. Students holding other degrees may be admitted but will be expected to make up for any deficiencies and fulfill all requirements for the graduate degree.
Applicants to choral music, instrumental conducting (wind band or orchestra), jazz performance, piano pedagogy, performance and literature, and vocal accompanying and coaching must pass a qualifying audition for their major area or submit satisfactory recordings. Applicants in musicology and composition must present writings or other evidence of their ability to pursue work at the graduate level. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
The School of Music requires all-new MM students to complete entrance examinations in music theory and musicianship (excluding Musicology). These exams take place the week before the fall term begins. See the School of Music’s Graduate Resources page for more information.
A prerequisite for admission to the Artist Diploma is a bachelor's degree.
Applicants to the MM and the Artist Diploma (AD) whose native language is not English must present an iBT score of 79 for admission to the Artist Diploma (AD), 90 for the Master of Music (MM), excluding Musicology; MM in Musicology requires an iBT score of 96. A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. Please see the full English proficiency requirements. Fall admission only; other terms of entry by departmental petition approval only.
Requirements for admission to the Master of Music in Education (MME) are:
- Undergraduate degree in music education from an accredited institution;
- An overall grade average for the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The grade average for Music Education and Education courses, when averaged separately, must also be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
- Recommendations from three individuals who can discuss the applicant’s musicianship, ability to undertake graduate-level study, and teaching ability/potential.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for application to the MME, nor do MME students take placement tests in music theory or music history.
For MME applicants with public school experience:
- recommendation from a principal or supervisor who speaks primarily to the quality of the applicants teaching experience;
- recommendation from an individual who speaks primarily to the quality of the applicant's musicianship;
- recommendation from an individual who speaks primarily to the applicant's potential for completion of graduate-level study;
- applicants who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship should ensure that at least one of their references provides specific comments on their potential to engage in university-level teaching duties associated with such an appointment.
For MME applicants without public school experience:
- recommendation from a music education professor;
- recommendation from an applied or ensemble music professor;
- recommendation from an individual who can speak to the applicant's potential for completion of graduate study.
Applicants seeking admission to the MME + Licensure program should review the online requirements.
Applicants to the MME whose native language is not English must present an iBT score of 96 for the Master of Music Education (MME). A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. Please see the full English proficiency requirements.
The School of Music offers an academic year program and a Summers-only MME. For academic year applications, the School of Music offers Fall admission only; spring term of entry by departmental petition approval only.
Requirements for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology programs are the Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution.
Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts programs must have:
- a high level of proficiency in composition, conducting, or performance - candidates in composition must submit original scores for review, and candidates in performance and literature must pass a qualifying audition or submit satisfactory recordings; and
- appropriate experience in ensemble performance and/or score reading. Candidates in voice and vocal accompanying and coaching must have fulfilled all foreign language requirements considered prerequisites for the Master of Music degree, including 1 year of college-level study in Italian, French, and German.
The School of Music requires all new DMA students to complete entrance examinations in music theory, musicianship, and score reading. These exams take place the week before the fall term begins. See the School of Music’s Graduate Resources page for more information.
Applicants to the DMA or PhD whose native language is not English must submit an iBT score of 96. A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. Please see the full English proficiency requirements.
See information about admission to the MME and PhD in Music Education.
Language Requirements
For the Master of Music program, applicants in voice and vocal accompanying and coaching must have had at least one year each of college-level French, German, and Italian or the equivalent. Applicants in other applied music areas, composition, conducting, and musicology must have had one year of any language at the college level or the equivalent.
All Doctor of Musical Arts candidates must demonstrate proficiency in at least one language other than English. Each area may specify which language is required or may require proficiency in more than one language. Please review the current Graduate Music Handbook for more details.
Proficiency is required in two languages, depending on the proposed field of specialization, for candidates in the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology program. This may be demonstrated through two years of undergraduate study in each language.
For all Graduate Degrees:
Students who do not meet the language requirement at the time of entrance may be satisfied by evidence of two years of undergraduate study or the equivalent, or by completion of a two-semester or satisfactory test scores. For up-to-date information regarding the language requirements of the School of Music, please see the Graduate Music Handbook.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an essential part of the graduate experience.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, teaching, graduate, and research assistantships are awarded on a one-year basis, with continuation dependent upon success in the program. Specific information on application procedures is available from the Music Admissions Office, by phone (217) 244-7899, or by email.
for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Music, Music Composition Concentration
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 506 | Graduate Level Composition | 12-16 |
| Advanced Musicology - select 8 hours from the following (MUS 511, 512, 516, 519, 520, 523 are particularly appropriate for DMS students pursuing a cognate in Musicology: | 8 | |
| Regional Studies in Musicology (must enroll for 4 credits) | ||
| Foundations and Methods of Musicology I | ||
| Fdns/Methods of Musicology II | ||
| Fieldwork and Ethnography | ||
| Topics in Instrumental Music | ||
| Regional Studies in Musicology | ||
| Analytical Methods: Musicology | ||
| Social Theory in Ethnomusicology | ||
| Historical Studies in 20thC Music | ||
| Special Topics Seminar | ||
| Seminar in Musicology | ||
| Seminar in Works of Select Composer | ||
| Advanced Music Theory - select one course from each of the following two groups | 6 | |
| Analysis of Musical Form (Section A-C) | ||
or MUS 400 | Counterpoint and Fugue | |
| Analysis of Musical Form (Sections D-E) | ||
| Cognate field or minor area | 8-16 | |
| Electives (min/max applied toward degree; only 4 hours of ensemble credits may count toward electives): | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirements: | ||
| Courses taken to meet language requirements do not count toward the degree. See the departmental handbook for details. | ||
| Thesis Hours or Doctoral Project Hours Required – MUS 576/MUS 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 16 | |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | ||
| Dissertation Deposit Not Required | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration-specific requirements as listed above | ||
| MUS 528 | Res & Bibliography in Music (sections A1-A3) | 2 |
| MUS 528 | Res & Bibliography in Music (sections B1-B2) | 2 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Concentration | Yes |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to DMA? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required: | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required: | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Music, Music Composition Concentration
Students in the Doctor of Musical Arts program, with a concentration in Music Composition will:
- Develop their musical craft and creativity at the highest professional level, using critical thinking, analysis and technology to inform stylistic choices and artistic expression, and will communicate their creativity to diverse audiences through performances of their music.
- Develop a secondary area of expertise to demonstrate discipline-related breadth at an advanced level, and/or the acquisition of new professional skills.
- Demonstrate an ability to summarize, synthesize and critique disciplinary content (including pedagogical material) in relation to their major and secondary (cognate) areas of study.
- Demonstrate effective analytical and interpretative skills in music theory and musicology, as well as an ability to communicate an advanced understanding and evaluation of musical knowledge and ideas in written and/or oral forms.
- Pursue specialized studies, to demonstrate expertise and an ability to synthesize knowledge in areas of interest that enhance their required curriculum and/or professional goals.
- Exhibit their musical creativity through the production of an original, large-scale composition and will demonstrate their ability to communicate the conceptual and artistic framework for their work clearly and professionally in written and/or oral forms.
- Utilize and apply appropriate research methods to explore a focused research topic and to contribute original perspectives to discipline-related knowledge, communicating their research findings clearly and professionally in written or oral forms.
- In addition, many Illinois DMA students will develop experience and expertise in instruction, pedagogy, and student assessment in at least one area of musical study, gaining insights into studio and/or classroom teaching and appropriate methods of evaluation.
for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Music, Music Composition Concentration
School of Music
Director of School: Dr. Linda Moorhouse
Associate Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Reynold Tharp
Program Contact: Jenny Phillips
School of Music website
School of Music faculty
2040 Music Building, 1114 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3459
College of Fine & Applied Arts
FAA College website
Admissions
Overview of School of Music Admissions & Requirements
Music Admissions email
(217) 244-7899
Graduate College Admissions